SLR vs regular digital?

Denise Racine · 04-01-2005, 03:36 PM

calling all camera experts...Please help me decide what to do!

Yesterday I bought Canon's new XT Rebel SLR and a 75-300 zoom. It works great and is very easy to use. The only problem is that I am second guessing my choice.

This camera is mainly to take pictures of my finished paintings and pictures of reference material in my studio and while travelling. That's where I begin to doubt... Do I really want to be carrying this big thing around while I travel or should I just get a pocket sized, good quality, high resolution digital? Maybe I should have both?

Please let me know what you think...I have 14 days to return the Canon Rebel...

Mike McCarty · 04-01-2005, 04:24 PM

Hi Denise,

I'll give you my thoughts, others may think differently.

This sounds like a real nice camera. The only thing I would question is the lens, and only if it is the only lens you have for this camera. I think you will find that there is too much telephoto here for a lot of inside photo reference work. This camera has a multiplier of 1.6, which pushes the 75 mm up to 120 mm on the low end. This can work OK outside, but in a twelve foot (or even bigger) room you just can't back up far enough. If this is the only lens you have for this camera I would reconsider it for the 18-55 zoom (29-88 after the x 1.6), or maybe something with slightly more telephoto. I think you need to be able to operate in the 50-100 mm range after the multiplier. Anything on top of this is great in the out of doors and is icing.

As far as comparing this camera to a small pocket digital. I wonder about this from time to time. I always come down to the question - when do I want to take a less than perfect photograph. When am I sure that the perfect opportunity is not just around the next corner.

My advice would be to keep this camera (I understand that it's smaller and lighter than its predecessor), especially if it's the only camera you will have.

Denise Racine · 04-01-2005, 05:13 PM

I forgot to mention...it comes with an 18-55 lens.

The salesperson from the camera store said that SLR (Single Reflexe Lens) technology takes the exact picture that we see through the viewfinder whereas a regular digital does not.

I have no intention of becoming a photographer and I wonder if there is something more compact out there that would allow me to take excellent pictures of my paintings and reference material without the bulk. Apparently this is one of the smallest and lightest SLR cameras on the market.

We are supposed to "travel light" through Europe this summer and I'm not sure that I want the extra luggage! But if I am going to spend approx 2,000$ CDN on a camera it better be the right one! I guess I just want it all...performance, resolution, flexibility and compact size!

Do you carry all your photography gear around with you when you travel? I'm thinking that I should bring something smaller.

Mike McCarty · 04-01-2005, 05:56 PM

Quote:

I have no intention of becoming a photographer an I wonder if there is something more compact out there that would allow me to take excellent pictures of my paintings and reference material without the bulk.

You use the word "excellent," not pretty good, not acceptable. If excellence is what you expect of yourself, then you will need excellent equipment.

In my opinion there is a chasm's worth of difference between this camera you have bought (or any other digital SLR) and whatever comes in second place.

If you just want to document a vacation there are plenty of pocket cameras that could do that.

I'm used to traveling with my Nikon. I carry it in a relatively small bag which only has room for some lens cleaner papers, a small vile of cleaning fluid, my battery charger, and a second telephoto lens. For someone not use to it, or for someone who's not as enthusiastic about their photography, it might seem an over kill.

I can't seem to live with the fact that what I want is out there just ahead of me, and I'm not prepared to deal with it in the most excellent way I can.

Denise Racine · 04-01-2005, 07:59 PM

I think I will keep it....Thanks for the advice!

Janel Maples · 04-09-2005, 01:13 PM

For what it is worth, I had a small, very nice, digital camera to carry along with me for convenience. The key word here is HAD. Then, I bought the Rebel to take good photos of my art and for references. To make a long story short my 14 yr old is now the proud owner of her own, very nice, very small digital camera. I wouldn't be caught dead without my Rebel. The camera that is. And I don't care how big it is!

End of story.

Michele Rushworth · 04-09-2005, 07:56 PM

One size doesn't really fit all purposes when it comes to cameras. I use my big SLR digital Nikon for serious photography (portrait reference shots, photos of my paintings) and if I was going to Europe and trying to pack light I'd also buy a decent and very small digital camera for that purpose.

Michael Georges · 04-10-2005, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michele Rushworth

One size doesn't really fit all purposes....and if I was going to Europe and trying to pack light I'd also buy a decent and very small digital camera for that purpose.

I will recommend the Canon PowerShot A95 for just that purpose! It is a very compact 5 MP camera and is great for taking on the road or vacation. I have my D10 for professional work, but it is too cumbersome to lug around when I travel. I have actually gotten some good reference out of the small one.